Cattails Cove on Hodeck Street in Cedarville was originally known as Lil's Snack Bar, built in 1959 by Lil and Fred Johnson, who served excellent food and homemade pies. The Johnsons are pictured behind the counter on the right, with Mrs. Johnson at the far right. Left of Mr. Johnson is Geraldine Thone. The other people in the photograph are unidentified. Today, the establishment belongs to Pamela and Nathan Harrison, who've owned it for six years, purchasing it from John Fisher, who operated Fisher's Channel Marker there. (Photograph courtesy of Lorraine Powers of Mackinaw City) 90 YEARS AGO

The St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, May 22, 1919

The actual percentage of illiterates within the draft age was 24.6. In other words, one out of every four could neither read nor write.

Harry Hawker, the nervy Australian, who with his navigator, Grieves, attempted to make a nonstop flight across the Atlantic from Newfoundland, is believed to have been drowned shortly after his start.

The strike of the Northwestern tannery employees at the Soo is now running into its third week.

The $50,000 damage suit brought by Capt. Alex Cunning, master of the Great Lakes Towing & Wrecking tug Favorite, whose headquarters are at this port, against the Erie and Western Transportation Co., is being heard before Superior Judge David in Chicago. Capt. Cunning charges false arrest, alleging he was charged with piracy and larceny as an outgrowth of overhauling the steamer Wissa Hickon, Anchor Line freighter, which went aground off Duck Island, Lake Erie, in 1911.

The withdrawal of American troops in Russia will begin June 1st is the latest report from the war department. This news is of local interest from the fact that Sergt. Wager Mulcrone is a member of the 339th regiment. The last word received from Wager was written last October on board his ship that took him to Russia.

President Wilson, in his message to Congress, recommended repeal of the War Time Prohibition Act, as far as it applies to wine and beer only. Congress met in special session Monday, with the Republicans in control of both branches for the first time in eleven years.

The management of the local base ball club has called off the matter of signing the Detroit League club for an exhibition game here during the height of the resort season. After the showing made by the Tigers so far this season, it is not believed they would be much of an attraction and not worthwhile as an advertising medium to draw a crowd.

People are coming in to the Snows now every day. The family of Charles J. Gotchell is expected about June first.

Mrs. E.D. McBain arrived at the Lakeside Hotel last Saturday. Several carpenters have been at work at the Lakeside during the past week.

No doubt the Cedarville ball club will be pleased to hear from other clubs in the vicinity that think they are a match for a good team. Now that the war is over, let the fun commence.

The Wickman studio is again open for business, Mr. Wickman having returned from Boca Grande, Florida, Saturday. He said he had a successful winter in the south and predicts a big season for both St. Ignace and Mackinac Island.

50 YEARS AGO

The Republican-News & St. Ignace Enterprise Thursday, May 21, 1959

St. Ignace city council on Monday adopted a resolution addressed to Highway Commissioner John C. Mackie asking for utilization of the highway department property between State Dock 1 and Ray's Garage as an improved and metered parking area.

Arvid Thompson has taken over management of the Gateway Speedway station on West US-2.

Another change in the ranks of upper peninsula basketball coaches has been announced with the resignation of Eugene "Curly" Frechette of St. Ignace high school. Frechette, a native of Rudyard, recently completed his second season as head basketball coach here.

Isaac Plont died May 11 at the nursing home in Ovid at the age of 103. Plont was born Feb. 19, 1856, at St. Ignace, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Plont.

Harold James Dettman, son of Mrs. and Mr. Harold L. Dettman of St. Ignace, who was discharged from the U.S. Air Force on April 30, was awarded the Air Force Commendation medal and certificate by Lt. General William E. Hall, U.S.A.F. commander of Mitchell field in special exercises held at the base.

William Amacher, manager of Vogelheim Lumber Co., was elected president of the St. Ignace Lions Club Monday night. He succeeds Dr. H.E. Hamel.

In a cooperation effort with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the conservation department will launch plantings early next month as part of a projected 10-year restoration program for lake trout in the Great Lakes.

Belle Isle Inn, operated by Gregory Gyftakis, restaurant operator with 49 years of experience, opens for the season and has prepared a Sunday special in roast chicken for "friends and neighbors" to introduce them to "the fine foods we serve."

Mr. and Mrs. Elwood O'Hare of Grosse Pte. Woods have purchased the Humphrey Motel on West US-2 a mile east of Brevort and plan to have it open for operation Memorial Day weekend.

Mrs. Loyal Olmstead has sold her barber shop equipment to Floyd Henry. The Olmstead barber shop space in the Goudreau building is being taken over by the Skogmo store which was established alongside the barber shop. This expansion will double the space of the Skogmo store, operated by the Robert Krostues and Warren Hagens.

The S.S. South American docked at the Arnold Transit Co. dock Saturday on her first youth cruise of the '59 season. She carried 450 youth cruisers from the Detroit area.

Attention: To the Residents of St. Ignace Township and the Public - Take notice that because of the abuse of dump No. 2 and the fire hazard it has caused, after May 18, 1959, the St. Ignace Township Board Closes The Evergreen Shores Dumping Ground to public use. Ruth Gorman, Clerk, St. Ignace Township.

"The Mackinac County Board of Supervisors respectfully request our United States Senators, Patrick V. McNamara and Philip A. Hart, and our Congressman, Victor A. Knox, to sponsor and support federal aid for the construction of an adequate harbor and dock on Bois Blanc Island." - A resolution passed at the Board meeting, April 1959.

The Wigwam Restaurant opened last Saturday with Mr. and Mrs. B. Bentgen as owners and proprietors; and the tavern part was opened also with Mr. Jack Hopkins of Detroit as manager. Mr. Hopkins purchased the bar from Mr. Day Roof. [Gros Cap]

Representatives of more than 50 Michigan communities and Michigan's four tourist and resort associations attended dedication ceremonies for the state highway department's new highway tourist information station at the south approaches of the Mackinac Bridge last Saturday. The new station is to provide a rest stop for highway users as well as picnic and roadside park facilities.

35 YEARS AGO

The Republican-News

& St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, May 23, 1974

LaSalle High School Principal Ron Dahms has announced that the senior graduating class this year will number 90 students.

A motion was approved [by St. Ignace Council] that the City Manager work with Mike Wilkins to conduct a preliminary survey of the residents of the Lake Street area in regards to the need and estimated cost of a sanitary sewer.

Gov. William G. Milliken said Friday the State Highway Commission will be asked next week to approve a schedule for construction or re-construction of US-2 in the 1970s and 1980s. The schedule calls for construction along the 323 miles of the highway from the Wisconsin line east to St. Ignace, except for a small section in Wisconsin and another from Escanaba north to Rapid River which was recently built as a four-lane divided highway.

Saturday, June 1, 4 p.m. at pool side, the outdoor swimming pool will be dedicated [St. Ignace].

Law-White Post 7958 V.F.W., with an active membership of some 75 veterans, held formal installation services at the Veterans Hall in Hessel on Friday evening, May 17. Installed to serve for the coming year are: Verne Huyck, Post Commander; Michael Amarose, Sr., Vice-Commander; Don Nettleton, Jr., Vice-Commander; Jack Law, Quartermaster; Jim Gill, Post Advocate; Charles Markstrom, Chaplain; Mac Harrison, Surgeon; Ted Kerr, three-year trustee; and Jim Johnson, Adjutant.

The Lois Campbell Award, a citation for the highest grade point average in the entire College of Human Ecology at Michigan State, was awarded to Sharon Hudson Wojnarowski recently [Les Cheneaux].

St. Ignace A&W, now hiring inside and outside help. Apply in person at 1152 N. State Street.

Summer visitors to Fort Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City can watch the era of the American Revolution taking shape before their eyes. Reconstruction of the 1775 sloop Welcome has progressed dramatically since the park closed last October. Skilled shipbuilders have erected all the huge wooden ribs of the 55-foot-long vessel, so far. This summer the Welcome, which now dwarfs its human constructors, will be ready for hull planking with twoinch thick, special cut cedar.

On nearby Mackinac Island, the historic Mackinac Island buildings, including Fort Mackinac, open May 22. Undergoing restoration at the fort is the 1780 Officers' Stone Quarters, the only building in Michigan surviving from the American Revolution.

15 YEARS AGO

The St. Ignace News

Thursday, May 19, 1994

Kiwanis Beach and State Street are awash with construction work as St. Ignace's extensive water system project gets underway.

Frustrated area bar and restaurant owners are banding together in hopes of warding off what they see as overzealous - and fiscally crippling - police patrols. Their complaints actually are numerous and include state fees and taxes, but it was the police that drew the most fire during a Monday, May 16, meeting in St. Ignace. Patrols - especially by State Police troopers - near area establishments have been so vigorous, they said, that business last winter declined by as much as 30 percent and respectable citizens are made to feel like criminals.

President Bill Clinton last week officially declared the frost damage in northern Michigan a disaster, raising Mackinac County officials' hopes of recouping $294,750 in damages.

The Joseph K. Lumsden Center on Marquette Avenue in Sault Ste. Marie has been used by the Sault Tribe as office space for a decade. Tribe officials hope to secure federal funds this year to return the building to its former use - a school for Native Americans.

Michigan's Eastern Upper Peninsula and Ontario's Manitoulin Island area will be linked by a ferry between DeTour Village and Meldrum Bay, if a current proposal becomes a reality.

The Mackinac Island boys team and Grand Marais girls team captured the Northern Lights League track and field championships in a meet at LaSalle High School on Saturday, May 14. Ben Horn and Nathan St. Onge combined for five first-place finishes to lead the Lakers to the championship.

Kevin St. Onge and Susan Trevarrow were named Cedarville High School's most valuable senior athletes at the school's 37th annual athletic awards banquet. St. Onge and Trevarrow are three-sport athletes for the Trojans.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The St. Ignace News is seeking original prints or reprints of old photographs depicting areas in the Eastern Upper Peninsula to be scanned into the archives and for the Looking Back column. Photographs to be loaned or donated to the Michilimackinac Historical Society can also be dropped off at The St. Ignace News.